Digitalis plant named &#39;wedding bells&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct cultivar of  Digitalis  plant named ‘Wedding Bells’, is characterized by its peloric flower form, unique dwarf habit, prolific and repeat flowering capabilities. Its generous-sized white flowers provide a strong colour contrast with the yellow buds and together with the grey-green foliage and silver stems, create an eye catching novelty. The combination of these characteristics, together with its heat and drought resistance, establish this cultivar as one well-suited to ornamental horticultural use such as patio gardening and pot culture.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

(Digitalis purpurea ssp. heywoodii×Digitalis purpurea alba peloricform’)

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘WEDDING BELLS’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDigitalis plant, botanically known as Digitalis purpurea subsp.heywoodii×Digitalis purpurea alba peloric form’ and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Wedding Bells’.

The new Digitalis is the product of a planned breeding programmeconducted by the Inventor in Stroud, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom in1993 with the female, or seed parent, Digitalis purpurea subsp.heywoodii not patented, and an unnamed selection of Digitalis purpureaalba peloric form’ not patented, as the male or pollen parent. Theobjective of the breeding programme was to create novel Digitaliscultivars with numerous flowers, silvery foliage and compact habit.

The new Digitalis was discovered as part of the selection process by theInventor in May 2004 as a single flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stroud,Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by means of tissue culture inHampshire, the United Kingdom, has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduce true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wedding Bells’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Wedding Bells’ as a new and distinctDigitalis cultivar:

-   -   1. Dwarf and bushy plant habit.    -   2. Peloric in its flower form. Profuse flowering        capabilities—extending late into the season on a repeat basis.        Large flowers in terminal clusters of both campanulate and        bilabiate form.    -   3. Tomentose stems and felted grey-green leaves.    -   4. Pronounced yellow colouration to the flower buds paling to        white at maturity.

Plants of the new Digitalis can be compared to the female parent, theDigitalis subsp. heywoodii. Compared to plants of the subsp. heywoodii,plants of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ are 30 cms shorter. The cultivar‘Wedding Bells’ comprises both bilabiate and campanulate flowers on thesame plant whereas the flowers of the subsp. heywoodii are entirelybilabiate. The terminal campanulate flowers on the cultivar ‘WeddingBells’ are apically dominant whereas the bilabiate flowers on the subsp.heywoodii mature from the base of the raceme first.

The production of flowering laterals is greatly increased with thecultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ as compared to the female parent, subsp.heywoodii, which produces less.

The colouration of the flower buds of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ are adeeper yellow than those of the subsp. heywoodii, which are paler.Flowers of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ mature to white and are rarelyspotted, whereas flowers of the subsp. heywoodii have pink spottingwithin the corolla and frequently tinted pink around the corollaentrance.

Flowers of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ are more generously proportionedthan those of the subsp. heywoodii which are narrower and smalleroverall.

Fecundity on the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ is low to absent compared tothe subsp. heywoodii which sets seed freely. The inability to set seedand repeat flowering capabilities of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’,significantly extends the flowering period over that of its femaleparent, the subsp. heywoodii.

Plants of the new Digitalis can be compared to the male parent, theunnamed selection of Digitalis purpurea alba pelorie form’. Compared toplants of the male parent, Digitalis ‘Wedding Bells’ are perennial inhabit whereas those of the male parent, Digitalis purpurea alba peloricform’ are biennial.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ are on average 40 cms shorterthan that of the male parent, Digitalis purpurea alba.

Compared to plants of the male parent, Digitalis purpurea alba peloricform’, plants of the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ have felted grey-greenfoliage, tomentose stems and shortly-spaced internodes. Digitalispurpurea alba on the other hand, has widely-spaced internodes, coarsegreen foliage and green stems.

Flowers on the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’ are more numerous and closelyspaced than the male parent Digitalis purpurea alba, which has sparsewidely-spaced flowers. Flowers mature, almost exclusively, to pure whiteon the cultivar ‘Wedding Bells’—only occasionally presenting with feintkhaki coloured spots within the corolla. Whereas, flowers of the maleparent, Digitalis purpurea alba, are commonly marked with purple orkhaki coloured spots—rarely presenting as pure white.

Compared to other Digitalis known to the Inventor, the hybrid ‘WeddingBells’ is unique in its dwarf determinate form and radial arrangement ofnumerous flowering laterals—all of which terminate in a campanulateflower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying coloured photographs illustrate both the overallappearance of the new cultivar and the close-up view illustrates theform of its flowers. The colours are as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in coloured reproductions of this type. Colours inthe photographs may differ slightly from the colour values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolours of the new Digitalis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants shown in the aforementioned photographs and used in the followingdescription were grown under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions during the spring in an outdoor nurseryin Stroud, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Plants were about one yearold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, colour references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Digitalis purpurea subsp.    heywoodii×Digitalis purpurea alba ‘peloric form’ cultivar ‘Wedding    Bells’-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed parent.—Digitalis purpurea subsp. heywoodii.        -   Male, or pollen parent.—Unnamed selection of Digitalis            purpurea alba ‘peloric form’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.        -   Root description.—Fine, freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Short-lived perennial, typically 3 yrs. Dwarf plant            habit with dense and bushy growth. The leafy upright            inflorescence develops into a narrow fan shape of branching            flower stems from axillary buds. Retains a tufted rosette of            foliage during winter dormancy.        -   Plant height.—Approx. 30 cms in the first year, extending to            about 36 cms in subsequent years. Plant width. About 28 cms.        -   Lateral stem description.13 Quantity primary laterals per            plant: Average of about 8 Quantity secondary laterals per            plant: Average 15-20 Length, primary laterals: Average from            15-20 cms. Length, secondary laterals: Average from 4-8 cms            Diameter, primary laterals: About 7 mm (excluding            indumentum) Diameter, secondary laterals: From 2-3 mm,            (excluding indumentum) Internode length: About 2-3 cms.            Strength: Strong Aspect: Slightly arching Texture: Tomentose            Colour: Greyed-Green 194B to Greyed-Green 194C, depending on            the density of indumentum.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple along            the central axis. Alternate and occasionally in opposite            pairs on the primary laterals Quantity per stem: About 10 on            the central axis and about 5 on the primary laterals Length:            About 10 cms at maturity (excluding petiole) Width: About            5-6 cms at maturity Shape: Ovate, tapering into the petiole            Apex: Acuminate Base: Cuneate Margin: Serrate Smaller, ovate            to lanceolate leaves occur in opposite pairs at the base of            the secondary laterals and again singly further up Texture            when young: Upper surface, felted Lower surface, densely            felted Texture when mature: Upper surface, puberulous,            becoming tomentose into the base of the midrib and petiole            Lower surface, covered in woolly pubescence, becoming            concentrated into the petiole Colour: Developing foliage,            upper surface: Green Group 138B Developing foliage, lower            surface: Greyed-Green Group 191B Fully expanded foliage,            upper surface: Green Group 138A Fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: Greyed-Green Group 191B Venation pattern:            Pinnate Petiole length: 3-4 cms Petiole width: 1-1.5 cms            Petiole texture: Upper & lower surfaces — tomentose. Petiole            colour: Upper surface, Green Group 138B Petiole colour:            Lower surface, Grey-Green Group 191B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Central axis terminates in a            single apically dominant campanulate flower held at approx.            50 degrees from the vertical. Below this, an average of 3 5            bilabiate flowers are arranged alternately and in opposite            pairs — opening from the base upwards and spaced between 0.5            cms and 1.5 cms apart. Frequently, a bilabiate flower occurs            on a very short pedicel at the base of the apical flower.            The crowded laterals which subsequently develop, telininate            in clusters of between 3-4 bilabiate flowers spaced between            0.5 cms and 1.5 cms apart and having at the apex a single            apically dominant campanulate flower.        -   Natural flowering season.—End April for up to 6 wks. on            average in the United Kingdom. If the spent flower stems are            removed, plants will respond with fresh basal growth. After            approx. one month, the plants will flower on the new growth            until end September approx. Flowers not persistent.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last on            average 6-7 days on the plant (not including bud stage).        -   Fragrance.—None detected.-   Flower buds (campanulate):    -   -   Length.—About 4 cms.        -   Diameter.—About 2 cms.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Colour.—Tight buds, Yellow-Green 151A — maturing closest to            Yellow Group 5C Texture: Puberulous around the apex,            becoming smooth and hairless towards the base Time to            opening: 2-3 days.-   Flower buds (bilabiate):    -   -   Length.—About 3 cms.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cms.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Form.—Personate.        -   Colour.—Tight buds, Yellow-Green 151A — maturing closest to            Yellow Group 5C.        -   Texture.—Puberulous at the apex of the lower lip and lateral            petals becoming scant and then smooth towards the base.            Upper lip petal, minutely pubescent at the apex only,            otherwise smooth.        -   Time to opening.—2-3 days.        -   Flowers (campanulate).—Length: About 4 cms Diameter: About            3.5 cms.        -   Flowers (bilabiate).—Length: About 4 cms Diameter: About 3            cms.        -   Petals, campanulate flowers.—Arrangement: Fused at the            corolla base separating into lobes at the apex. Each aspect            of equal length having typically 5-6 fused petals per flower            with a maximum of 8 recorded Length: About 4 cms Width:            About 1.5 cms Shape: Oval, undulating from the base giving a            ribbed appearance Apex: rounded becoming undulate at            maturity Margin: Entire Texture outer surface: Puberulous at            the apex becoming smooth and hairless towards the base            Texture inner surface: Conspicuous hairs, 3 mm long line the            apex, becoming smooth and hairless towards the base Colour            exterior surface: When opening, Yellow Group 8C — suffused            Yellow Group 8B Fully open: Yellow Group 8D — paling to            White Group 155A at maturity Colour interior surface: When            opening, Yellow Group 8B Fully open: Yellow Group 8D —            paling to White Group 155A at maturity. Very occasionally, a            sprinkling of feint khaki spots line the corolla.        -   Petals bilabiate flowers.—Arrangement: Having four upper            petals fused towards the base and One lower lip petal            Length, upper lip petals: About 3 cms Length lateral petals:            About 3.5 cms Length, lower lip petal: About 4 cms Width,            upper petals: About 2 cms Width, lower lip petal: About 1.8            cms Shape: Oval but with noticeable, centrally-placed ridge            to the upper petals, flattening into the lobe Apex: Rounded,            becoming undulate at maturity on the lower lip petal Margin:            Entire Texture: Exterior, upper lip petal, minutely            pubescent at the apex only, otherwise smooth. Exterior,            lateral petals: Puberulous at the apex, becoming scant and            then smooth towards the base Texture: Interior, upper            petals, smooth with minute marginal hairs Texture: Exterior,            lower lip petal. Puberulous at the apex, becoming smooth and            hairless towards the base Texture: Interior, lower lip            petal. Conspicuous hairs, 3 mm long line the apex, becoming            smooth and hairless towards the base.        -   Colour upper petals.—When opening, outer surface: Yellow            Group 8C Fully open: Yellow Group 8D paling to White Group            155A at maturity When opening, inner surface: Yellow Group            8C Fully open: Yellow Group 8D paling to White Group 155A at            maturity.        -   Colour lateral petals.—When opening, outer surface: Yellow            Group 8C with minor Yellow Group 8B shadings Fully open:            Yellow Group 8D paling to White Group 155A at maturity. When            opening, inner surface: Yellow Group 8B Fully open: Yellow            Group 8D paling to White Group 155A at maturity.        -   Colour lower lip petal.—When opening, outer surface: Yellow            Group 8C with minor Yellow Group 8B shadings Fully open:            Yellow Group 8D paling to White Group 155A at maturity When            opening, inner surface: Yellow Group 8B Fully open: Yellow            Group 8D paling to White Group I 55A at maturity Very            occasionally, a sprinkling of feint khaki coloured spots            appear.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/quantity per flower: Between 5 & 8 on            the terminal flowers, not fused. 5 on the bilabiate flowers,            not fused Length: About 1.5 cms Width: About 1 cm Shape:            Ovate Apex: Acute Base: Acute Margin: Entire Texture, upper            surface smooth with minute marginal hairs Texture,            puberulent becoming tomentose towards the base Colour, upper            surface: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Yellow-Green 146C basal            shading Colour, lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 146B.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—About 20 cms.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm (excluding indumentum) Aspect: Slightly            arching.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Tomentose.        -   Colour.—Greyed-Green 194C.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—About 0.5-1.5 cms.        -   Diameter.—About 1 mm (excluding indumentum) Aspect: Slightly            arching.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Tomentose.        -   Colour.—Greyed-Green 194C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per terminal flower: 5-8 Arrangement:            Inserted individually at the base of the corolla around the            pistil Filament length: About 13 mm Filament colour: White            Group 155D (translucent quality).        -   Stamens.—Quantity per stem flower: 4 Arrangement: Didynamous            Filament length: About 11 mm for the shorter pair to 13 mm            for the longer pair Filament colour: White Group 155D            (translucent quality).        -   Anthers.—Shape: Reniform Anther length: About 3 mm Anther            colour: Yellow Group 9D Pollen amount: Sparse to moderate            Pollen colour: Yellow-White Group 158D.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—One.        -   Pistil length.—About 2.5 cms (in both apical and stem            flowers).        -   Stigma form.—Bibbed, occasionally tripartite.        -   Stigma colour.—White Group 155D (opaque quality).        -   Style length.—About 1.3 cms.        -   Style colour.—White Group 155D (translucent quality).        -   Ovary colour.—Yellow-Green Group 146C, with Yellow-Green            146D basal shading Ovary Form: Septate.        -   Fruit/seeds.—Fecundity very low. The majority of seed            capsules having a ‘puckered’ appearance containing little or            no seed as a result of self-fertilization (self            incompatible). Any seed produced having low fertility and            short viability. Fertility is however restored by pollen            from Digitalis purpurea varieties — with which it is            compatible. The resultant hybrids, in the main, being ‘not            of type’ with only the occasional individual resembling the            seed parent.        -   Seed colour.—Brown Group 200C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Digitalis have been noted    to be resistant to aphids-   Drought resistance: Plants of the new Digitalis have been noted to    tolerate moderate drought-   High temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Digitalis have been    observed to tolerate temperatures up to 30 degrees C.-   Hardiness: Plants of the new Digitalis have been observed to be    hardy to about −6 degrees C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant named“Wedding Bells”, as illustrated and described characterised by a dwarfand bushy plant habit, peloric in its flower form, profuse floweringcapabilities—extending late into the season on a repeat basis, largeflowers in terminal clusters of both campanulate and bilabiate form,tomentose stems and felted grey-green leave and pronounced yellowcolouration to the flower buds paling to white at maturity.